GAME REPORT

David Vojvoda picked up 22 points to assure that Szolnoki Olaj stayed perfect

Szolnoki Okaj turned in a dominant fourth quarter to cruise to an 85-72 victory over BC Mures, but this EuroChallenge Group H contest was not as one-sided as it was made to look.

The visitors outscored Mures 24-9 in the final 10 minutes, turning a once intense battle into a laugher.

But for more than three quarters the teams were neck-and-neck as they traded the lead - something Mures held as late as the first minute of the fourth quarter.

Szolnoki were the first to build a significant lead in the game with David Vojvoda on fire in the early going. He had 11 of their first 17 points, and helped them go up 21-13 with 93 seconds left in the first quarter when Chris Oliver sank a pair of free throws.

But Mures fought all the way back and a 9-0 run saw them turned a 36-31 deficit into a 40-36 lead as Tyrone Mitchell drained a three-pointer late in the second quarter before the teams went in tied at 42.

Mures edged the start of the third quarter, and led 48-43 on Ivan Ivanovic's lay-up but Szolnoki kept scrapping as they remained locked together until the start of the final period.

It started with Mures up by two, and after two quick Szolnoki baskets Ionut Lupusavei's three-pointer gave them a 66-65 edge with 8:29 to play.

But it was the last they would see of the lead as Miljan Rakic reeled off three three-pointers in a row to start a 13-0 run, with Szolnoki finishing the fourth quarter four-of-five from beyond the arc.

Mures had entirely lose their way as turnovers and misses mounted, and Szolnoki ensured there was no respite as they continued to pull away.

COACH QUOTES

Szolnoki Olaj Player Simon Balázs"We are very glad that we won the game. It was very important for us to win on the road. Mures played well in the first half but we found a good rhythm, sank the shots and they got tired. I hope we can go on playing well from now on.”

BC Mures Player Teodor Jucan "Today they were better than us. We missed Martinic and we are still missing Ciric. We played well for 30 minutes but it was not enough, the bench still has to contribute more.”

Szolnoki Olaj KK Head Coach Nedeljko Asceric "I am very satisfied with this victory. I was very angry with my players for playing without heart, you cannot play the way we played in the second quarter. During half time we talked about it and fortunately we found the players who won us the game.”

BC Mures Head Coach Srecko Sekulovic "It was a hard game against an internationally experienced team. We also made some big mistakes leaving their shooters open. If we wish to win we have to play for 40 minutes. The absence of Martinic, the MVP of the first round, was a big problem for us, but tonight the better team won.”